WTA Finals to relocate to Charlotte's NBA arena in three-year deal

The Women's Tennis Association confirmed that its season-ending Finals will be held at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center, the arena used by the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, for a minimum three-year period beginning in 2027. WTA chair Valerie Camillo described the ambition to turn the Finals into a “Super Bowl for women’s sports,” combining elite competition with a broader celebration of women’s athletics and business. The decision arrives after the tour abandoned its final year in Saudi Arabia and temporarily moved this year’s event to Indian Wells, California, citing regional security concerns.

In tandem with the venue change, the WTA will relocate its global headquarters from St. Petersburg, Florida, to Charlotte and plans to add a WTA 500 tournament in the city after 2029. The tournament format may be condensed from eight to five days, increasing daily match counts to accommodate the NBA schedule. Local officials and investors, including Panthers owner David Tepper, view the move as part of a broader strategy to attract major sporting spectacles such as the Super Bowl and the 2031 Women’s World Cup.